Appearing Thursday on The Rob Ryan Show, Edwards discussed such topics as the season to date for the Bruins, how Brendan Shanahan has handled his new role and other teams to watch in the Eastern Conference.

Edwards discussed the unique goaltending situation the Bruins continue to be faced with this season with Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask both playing at the top of their game. Edwards said that if both goaltenders were on different teams, each would legitimately have a chance to be one of the game's top 10 starting netminders.

"Tuukka Rask has an entirely different style but brings an equal work ethic to his game," Edwards said. "Those two guys have such a good relationship, they don't compete against each other, they compete with each other, knowing that the competition is going to make the other guy better. That is unique in the NHL, it may be unique in all of sports."

He also added that Rask will continue to get better, claiming that the young goaltender still hasn't approached his best goaltending.

"This guy may not even get into his prime for another five years and I’m not being silly about it," Edwards said.

The broadcaster also discussed the way Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has been playing of late, and advocated for him to be one of the nominees for this year's Selke Trophy, given to the best defensive forward in the league.

"When you look at the vectors on which Bergeron skates — the way he cuts off a rush, the way he anticipates a seam pass, the way he goes face-to-face with a player along the boards or in open ice — he has thought at least a couple of beats ahead of the opponent and way over 90 percent of the time he's not only correct but then he wins the puck battle," Edwards said.

"He changes the opponents attack so many times in the course of the game that it results in more offense for the Bruins."

Edwards also raved about the job Shanahan has done in his new role this season as the league's disciplinarian, saying that he has done a great job in explaining his decisions and interpretations of the rules. Edwards also encouraged fans to go online and watch video tutorials and explanations of the rules, in order to become better informed.

When asked who he thought would be the top contender in the East along with the B's, Edwards said he liked the Penguins, who have shown they can win both with and without star player Sidney Crosby in the lineup.

This is the seventh Christmas at Fenway in a row that the club has sold over 200,000 tickets during the two-day period. Tickets were purchased online, by phone and at Fenway Park, and included Sox Pax and single-game tickets for select dates in April, May and September.

"We are extremely grateful for the support our fans continue to show year after year," said Red Sox executive vice president/COO Sam Kennedy. "We continue to work hard this off-season to field a team worthy of the support of our fans -– something we never take for granted -– and we look forward to welcoming Red Sox Nation home on Opening Day, April 13, 2012."

Opportunities are still available to purchase the very popular Sox Pax, which are four-game packages, as well as tickets for numerous 2012 home games in April, May and September. The remainder of the 2012 regular-season tickets for Red Sox home games will go on sale on a date to be announced after Jan. 1.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Headlines, Jared Shafran, MLB ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/12/red-sox-sell-over-216000-tickets-during-annual-christmas-at-fenway-event/feed/00Northeastern Rolls Into Break Riding Nation’s Best Six-Game Win Streakhttp://nesn.com/2011/12/northeastern-rolls-into-break-riding-nations-best-six-game-win-streak/
http://nesn.com/2011/12/northeastern-rolls-into-break-riding-nations-best-six-game-win-streak/#respondWed, 14 Dec 2011 05:39:36 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/northeastern-rolls-into-break-riding-nations-best-six-game-win-streak/Read More »]]>As the college hockey world heads into its winter break and players prepare for final exams, most teams are looking forward to a few weeks off during the holidays.

Northeastern isn't one of those teams.

The Huskies, currently the Hockey East's hottest team, have won six straight, dating back to a Nov. 18 win at Providence. The team is back at .500 with an overall record of 7-7-2, and has climbed back into the thick of things in the HE standings, sitting in seventh place with a conference record of 4-7-2.

Through its first 10 games of the season, Northeastern and first-year head coach Jim Madigan had won only one game, going 1-7-2. They had also played the most games in conference, and nothing seemed to be going right. But recently, things have drastically changed on St. Botolph Street.

While many players have made changes to their game, the turnaround has undoubtedly been fueled by junior goaltender Chris Rawlings, who has been seeing the puck better. During the streak, the netminder has allowed only nine goals and has a save percentage of .951.

"He's been fabulous," Madigan said of Rawlings' play. "He gives our team confidence. There's nothing worse than playing this game when you don't have confidence in your goaltender. I've been there before. It's a tough way to approach a game and we're not in that mindset at all. We go in there knowing we got what we think is the best goaltender in the league."

Earlier this season, Northeastern had trouble pulling games out in the third period, but that has also changed, evidenced by this past weekend's result. The Huskies picked up a 3-2 win over UMass-Lowell, another team that had been on a winning streak.

The teams entered the third period deadlocked in a 1-1 tie, but the Huskies got a goal on a deflection by defenseman Anthony Bitteto to take the lead, and later benefited from the Riverhawks pulling their goaltender Doug Carr with almost four minutes left in the game.

"There's going to be a lot of one-goal games in this league, and you have to find a way to win those games," Madigan said. "I credit our guys for finding a way to win the game. We've been in a few of these lately and you've got to come out on the plus side. These were two big points for our hockey club."

The six-game streak is Northeastern's longest since the 1997-98 season, and the team has outscored its opponents 27-9. And NU hasn't been beating just anybody. All of the team's last four wins have been over ranked opponents (Michigan, Notre Dame, Lowell), and only one of those games — last Saturday's win over the Riverhawks — came at home.

Offensively, it's been the line of Steve Quailer, Braden Pimm and Cody Ferriero that has led the charge. During the streak, the trio has combined for 14 goals, 13 assists and a plus-26.

"We're confident," Ferriero said. "When things aren't going well we know we can turn them around. We always know [Rawlings] will have our back there so we can take a few chances now and then. We don't like giving up odd-man rushes, but we're okay with giving up a few here and there to try and score some goals when we've got him back there."

What fueled this turnaround? It could have been a players-only meeting held the week before the winning streak started.

"We sat down and had a players-only meeting, kind of drew some things out and that definitely helped us out," Quailer, one of the team's assistant captains, said after the win against Providence back in November.

Quailer also spoke about the team doing something a little differently before that win.

"We tried a little reverse psychology tonight saying 'Let's go out there and lose this one' because saying 'Let's go win' hasn't been working so we switched it up."

While the Huskies will get some rest, they won't see a drop in the quality of their upcoming opponents on the schedule, as they'll return to face Princeton and then either Minnesota or Niagara as part of the Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis. After that, Northeastern will face Boston University and Boston College on its first weekend back in Hockey East play.

The game between Northeastern and BU will be televised live on NESN on Jan. 13.

Trivino, a senior who is currently leading Hockey East with 13 goals this season, was released without bail, but had to surrender his Canadian passport and was ordered to stay away from both the victim and BU housing. A native of Toronto, Ont., Trivino must post $25,000 cash bail in order to use the passport.

According to the police report, Trivino was “very intoxicated” during the time of the incident. He is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, one count of assault to rape and three counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime for felony.

Trivino was arraigned on seven different criminal charges and pled not guilty at Brighton District Court on Monday.

BU head coach Jack Parker said Trivino has had a history of alcohol-related problems. In a phone interview with The Daily Free Press, BU’s student newspaper, Parker said this is the fourth alcohol-related incident the 21-year-old Trivino has been punished by the team for in his three-plus years at BU.

“There is no question in my mind it’s an alcohol problem,” Parker said. “I did [ask him to get treatment], but he didn’t think it was for him.

“Corey knew exactly where he stood,” Parker said. “It’s sad but it’s simple for me. Corey knew in September that if he had another alcohol-related incident on campus or off campus, he would be gone from the team.”

BU has been streaking as of late, winning both their games this past weekend at New Hampshire and Maine and moving into second place in the Hockey East standings.

The shot was as big as any, coming on national television and keeping Indiana undefeated while giving the Wildcats their first loss of the season. Immediately after the buzzer sounded and the ball went through the twine, the students poured on the court to embrace the win and the team.

Every student who chooses a school for a big-time sports atmosphere wants a chance to rush the field of play after an enormous upset. It is one of the purest moments in sports, letting everything go and leaving it all out there after an exhilarating victory.

But due to the frequency in which college students and fans have rushed onto the field of play, what once was a rarity has lost its flair. It has become commonplace after almost any home team gets a big win.

Indiana is one of the most successful schools in college basketball history. The Hoosiers have won five national championships and reached the Final Four eight times, which is seventh-most among all schools. With countless All-America selections and one of the best coaches the game has ever seen in Bob Knight, Indiana has been there before.

Kentucky is one of its longtime rivals, and the Hoosiers were undoubtedly underdogs coming into the game, but this was no David vs. Goliath matchup. It was expected to be a good game. While the win was big, it wasn't rush-the-court worthy.

Another Big Ten Conference member, Michigan, is guilty of the same offense, rushing the field after defeating Ohio State in its regular-season finale in Ann Arbor, Mich. Yes, it is perhaps the biggest rivalry in college football and the Wolverines hadn't beaten the Buckeyes since 2003, but they were clearly the favorites coming into the game. In fact, had Michigan lost, it would have been a disaster, as it would have cost itself a BCS bowl bid.

This is the same sport in which players are barely allowed to celebrate after scoring a touchdown. These collegiate athletes are expected to act professionally and routinely jog off the field following a score, yet when the the game ends, thousands of fans come streaming onto the field after a routine win.

It is understandable that students at big-time sports schools want to celebrate victories. If you go to a school in the SEC or Big Ten, though, and you have a long, storied history, you're a big dog. Your school brings in the most sought-after, top-notch recruits from around the country, you have the facilities that rival a professional sports franchise, and you probably have a coach who has achieved a lot of success in his career. You're expected to win. That's just the way it is.

There is definitely a place for these types of celebrations, but they are better saved for small, mid-major schools. If a school from the Horizon or Sun Belt conference picked off a No. 1 team, for instance, not only would the celebration be warranted, but necessary to effectively capture the moment.

As with anything else, too much can be a bad thing. But if done just right, storming the field of play can create memorable experiences that last a lifetime.

Filed under: College Basketball, College Football, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NESN University, Opinion ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/12/rushing-the-field-of-play-too-often-an-occurance-should-be-reserved-for-rarest-moments/feed/00Rushing Field of Play Occurs Too Often, Should Be Reserved For Rarest MomentsReport: NFL Considering Suspending James Harrison For Helmet-To-Helmet Hit On Colt McCoyhttp://nesn.com/2011/12/nfl-considering-suspending-james-harrison-for-helmet-to-helmet-hit-on-colt-mccoy/
http://nesn.com/2011/12/nfl-considering-suspending-james-harrison-for-helmet-to-helmet-hit-on-colt-mccoy/#respondSun, 11 Dec 2011 18:48:06 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/nfl-considering-suspending-james-harrison-for-helmet-to-helmet-hit-on-colt-mccoy/Read More »]]>James Harrison has been a popular name over the past year around the NFL offices, where the league reviews helmet-to-helmet hits.

Last season the Steelers defensive standout was fined $125,000 for illegal hits. Harrison's most recent rule violation occured last week when he laid a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

McCoy, who suffered a concussion on the play and is not playing Sunday, was considered a "defenseless player" as he had thrown the ball before being hit.

The NFL hasn't yet made a ruling but it is expected that Harrison will at least be hit with a large fine, as he is a repeat offender, ESPN reports.

Harrison however, didn't see anything wrong with the hit, and maybe that, in itself is the root of the problem.

"From what I understand, once the quarterback leaves the pocket, he's considered a runner," Harrison said. "All the defenseless(ness) and liberties that a quarterback has in the pocket are gone and you can tackle him just as he's a running back. The hit wasn't late, so I really don't understand why it was called."

The league should have a ruling on the play early next week.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NFL ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/12/nfl-considering-suspending-james-harrison-for-helmet-to-helmet-hit-on-colt-mccoy/feed/00Report: Tyson Chandler Close to Signing With Knickshttp://nesn.com/2011/12/report-tyson-chandler-close-to-signing-with-knicks/
http://nesn.com/2011/12/report-tyson-chandler-close-to-signing-with-knicks/#respondFri, 09 Dec 2011 04:20:21 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/report-tyson-chandler-close-to-signing-with-knicks/Read More »]]>One of the key pieces to the Dallas Mavericks' championship run last summer may be on the verge of leaving the team.

Tyson Chandler, who is credited with changing Dallas' defensive culture before its title run, is reportedly in serious talks with the New York Knicks on a new contract. If he does leave, Chandler would become the first big free agent to sign a deal once the NBA's new labor deal is ratified.

ESPN's Marc Stein is reporting that New York moved past Golden State in the race for Chandler and a source says, "It's 98 percent sure that Tyson is going to wind up with the Knicks."

The move was thought to have been a precursor to the Knicks eventaually landing Chris Paul in a trade with New Orleans. Paul was reportedly traded in a deal to Los Angeles, but the NBA wiped out the proposed trade. Paul was thought to have longed for a reunion with Chandler, as the two previously played together with the Hornets. If they can lock up Chandler, the Knicks would be in position to offer star forward Amare Stoudamire to New Orleans in a trade for Paul, provided that the league would allow the move.

New York would also most likely part ways with Chauncey Billups and Ronny Turiaf through trades or the new NBA amnesty clause in order to make room for Chandler.

CSNBayArea.com reported that the Warriors have a four-year offer valued at $60 million on the table for Chandler and will try to outbid the Knicks. Golden State has made him its top target in what is sure to be a wild free agent signing period before the season gets under way on Christmas Day.

With Chandler in talks with other teams, it seems as if the Mavericks will let him walk without putting up much of a fight. Mark Cuban's team is instead concerned with staying as far under the cap as possible before the 2012 free agents like Paul, Dwight Howard, and Deron Williams become available.

With star player Dirk Nowitzki getting older, the Mavs want to add another big name to compliment Dirk's talent. It seems as if Chandler has moved on as well, telling ESPN last week, "I really think I'm going to be on a new team come training camp."

It is no secret that Paul would prefer to sign a long-term deal with a big-market franchise. If the Knicks go through with the move to bring Chandler to town, they could have a shot at landing Paul as well, but if Paul is off the market, New York could have second thoughts about the signing.

The video, which was made to thank fans for being patient during the lockout, shows Davis knitting, putting together a model car and building a replica of the TD Garden entirely out of popsicle sticks.

Big Baby seems to be doing well, until someone steps on screen and informs him that the lockout has ended.

Check out the video below.

Filed under: Boston Celtics, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/big-baby-stays-productive-and-keeps-himself-busy-during-the-nba-lockout-video/feed/00Justin Combs, Diddy’s Son, Commits To Play Football at UCLAhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/justin-combs-diddys-son-commits-to-play-football-at-ucla/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/justin-combs-diddys-son-commits-to-play-football-at-ucla/#respondTue, 29 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/justin-combs-diddys-son-commits-to-play-football-at-ucla/Read More »]]>Justin Combs, the son of music industry legend Sean "Diddy" Combs will play Division I football next season at UCLA.

Combs is 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, and has played defensive back at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, N.Y. He was also reportedly offered scholarships by Illinois, Virginia and Wyoming, the Los Angeles Times points out.

This news comes following the school's decision to fire head coachRick Neuheisel on Monday before its Pac-12 conference championship game.

"Playing Division I football was a lifelong dream of mine, and through hard work I was able to achieve it," Combs said in a statement released by his family's public relations firm.

Diddy also expressed his gratitude.

"As a parent, this is one of the proudest moments of my life," Combs said in a statement. "This is everything a father could want in his son, for him to excel at what he loves to do."

Combs will have to wait and see who his new coach will be, as UCLA is expected to conduct a national search for Neuheisel's replacement once the season ends.

Filed under: College Football, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NESN University ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/justin-combs-diddys-son-commits-to-play-football-at-ucla/feed/00Shawn Kemp Goes Through the Lane, Slams Over Alton Lister in 1996 (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/shawn-kemp-goes-through-the-lane-and-slams-over-alton-lister/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/shawn-kemp-goes-through-the-lane-and-slams-over-alton-lister/#respondTue, 22 Nov 2011 14:23:02 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/shawn-kemp-goes-through-the-lane-and-slams-over-alton-lister/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

During his playing days, Shawn Kemp got pretty high above the rim. Playing for Seattle, he and Gary Payton made up one of the most dynamic duos the league has ever seen.

Kemp was a six-time All-Star and made the NBA Finals with the SuperSonics in 1996, but lost to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in six games. He played 14 seasons in the NBA between 1989 and 2003 with Seattle, Cleveland, Portland and Orlando.

The performer, country star Jesse James, is Decker’s girlfriend. The receiver said he was excited for the performance and said he wished he could sneak out of the locker room to see it, but he had to settle for watching a recorded version after the game.

Decker has been the Broncos best wideout recently, and has seven touchdown receptions this season.

Filed under: Jared Shafran, NFL, Photo Gallery, Top Stories ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/country-star-jesse-james-girlfriend-of-broncos-receiver-eric-decker-performs-at-halftime-photos/feed/00Country Star Jesse James, Girlfriend of Broncos Receiver Eric Decker, Performs at Halftime (Photos)Vote: Are the Bruins Better This Season Than They Were Last Season?http://nesn.com/2011/11/are-the-bruins-better-this-season-than-they-were-last-season-poll/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/are-the-bruins-better-this-season-than-they-were-last-season-poll/#respondSun, 20 Nov 2011 16:00:20 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/are-the-bruins-better-this-season-than-they-were-last-season-poll/Read More »]]>Last season, the Bruins rode an improbable playoff run all the way to become Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 1972.

Although they got off to a slow start this season, the B's are riding an eight-game winning streak and have dominated in the month of November. Saturday's impressive 6-0 shutout of the New York Islanders just added to what has already been quite an impressive run.

The streak has fans thinking about a possible repeat when June rolls around. Since Boston won the Cup, most experts have said the Bruins will be contenders for years to come as they retained almost all of the players responsible for the win. The addition of defenseman Joe Corvo along with the maturity of second year forward Tyler Seguin could be just what the Bruins needed to stay on top of their game.

That combined with the netminder tandem of Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask, who have both played very well so far this season, could bring about another long run in the playoffs.

The 2010-11 team will be remembered forever in Boston for all the excitement it brought to the city last summer, but is this year's team better?

Filed under: Boston Bruins, Jared Shafran, NHL, Top Stories ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/are-the-bruins-better-this-season-than-they-were-last-season-poll/feed/00Vote: Are the Bruins Better This Season Than They Were Last Season?Kobe Bryant Drives Lane and Dunks Against Suns in 2006 Playoffs (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/kobe-bryant-throws-down-one-handed-dunk-over-steve-nash/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/kobe-bryant-throws-down-one-handed-dunk-over-steve-nash/#respondSun, 20 Nov 2011 15:03:36 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/kobe-bryant-throws-down-one-handed-dunk-over-steve-nash/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

There have been many rumors this offseason about if and where Kobe Bryant would play if there is no NBA season. Kobe has been linked to international teams in Italy, Turkey, and China, but as of now has not signed any deals.

The Lakers' standout guard has also made appearences at the negotiations between the owners and the players association.

In the first round of the 2006 NBA playoffs, with the Lakers visiting the Suns, the Philadelphia native drove the lane and threw down an uncontested the one-handed slam.

To see the play, check out the video below.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/kobe-bryant-throws-down-one-handed-dunk-over-steve-nash/feed/00LeBron James Throws Down Emphatic Dunk on Future Teammate Delonte West (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/lebron-james-throws-down-an-emphatic-dunk-on-delonte-west/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/lebron-james-throws-down-an-emphatic-dunk-on-delonte-west/#respondSat, 19 Nov 2011 15:18:24 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/lebron-james-throws-down-an-emphatic-dunk-on-delonte-west/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

After coming up short in the NBA Finals this year, superstar LeBron James might have to wait a while to get another crack at a championship. With even more setbacks in negotiations this week, the league might be headed towards cancelling the 2011-12 season.

Although LeBron faced a lot of criticism after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, he did have a lot of success there. He is a two-time MVP, a seven-time NBA All-Star, and has produced a lot of big highlights over the years.

Back when he was still in Cleveland, LeBron rose up and dunked over his future teammate Delonte West.

Check out "The King" in the video below.

Filed under: Boston Celtics, Boston Celtics Video, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/lebron-james-throws-down-an-emphatic-dunk-on-delonte-west/feed/00Shaquille O’Neal Breaks Brings Down Basket After Monster Putback Dunk Against Suns (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/shaquille-oneal-breaks-the-backboard-after-monster-put-back-dunk/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/shaquille-oneal-breaks-the-backboard-after-monster-put-back-dunk/#respondFri, 18 Nov 2011 22:48:37 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/shaquille-oneal-breaks-the-backboard-after-monster-put-back-dunk/Read More »]]>Editor’s note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Shaquille O’Neal picked the right time to walk away from the game. The Diesel announced his retirement at the end of last season, ending a 20-year career filled with tons of accolades and four NBA championship rings. With the league in a lockout, he wouldn’t have been playing much anyway.

Shaq started his career in Orlando with the Magic and quickly turned the team into a contender. Always one of the biggest players in the game, he was an immovable object in the paint.

During a game in Phoenix against the Suns, Shaq caused an entire basketball hoop to collapse after a putback dunk.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Orlando Magic, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/shaquille-oneal-breaks-the-backboard-after-monster-put-back-dunk/feed/00Boston University Looking To Turn Around Inconsistent Start To Seasonhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/boston-university-looking-to-turn-around-inconsistent-start-to-season/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/boston-university-looking-to-turn-around-inconsistent-start-to-season/#respondFri, 18 Nov 2011 04:03:49 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/boston-university-looking-to-turn-around-inconsistent-start-to-season/Read More »]]>Coming into this year's college hockey season, Boston University was a trendy pick to finish at the top of the Hockey East standings.

The Terriers had a ton of offense returning when most schools lost their top forwards to graduation or a professional contract. They had a national championship-caliber goaltender who, in his senior year, would be as hungry as ever to get back to the national stage and they had an experienced defense in front of him that was supposed to be big and physical with opponents in front of the net.

In its first game of the season with New Hampshire, the Terriers delivered as advertised, winning 5-0. Although many said the game was closer than the score dictated, it looked as if BU would be getting off to the start many had expected from them.

But the next week, the Terriers lost to Providence, a team that has been in the cellar of the Hockey East the past few years, by a score of 5-3. After a bounce-back win against Denver, BU lost to Holy Cross at home. That's when the warning signs went up.

On the last weekend in October when BU took three points from UMass, most figured they had righted the ship. But their next game was at UMass-Lowell, and the Terriers got pushed around in a 7-1 loss.

This was not the way this season was supposed to start for BU.

Last weekend, head coach Jack Parker said that playing down to Hockey East teams is inexcusable.

"We didn't feel like a BU hockey team," Parker said. "It was the absolute lack of respect or lack of effort or lack of both that we went out and laid an egg up at UMass-Lowell. How could we not think they were that good?"

Parker partly blamed the loss on his coaching staff, calling it a mistake that they couldn't get the team ready. But this past weekend was a big chance for the Terriers to turn it around as they went up against the top two teams in the Hockey East in Merrimack on Friday and Boston College on Sunday.

Although BU lost to the Warriors on a last-second goal on Friday, the team dominated BC two days later, winning a blowout game 5-0.

After the win, goaltender Kieran Millan said he felt things coming together.

"Although we lost to Merrimack, I think that was a huge step in the right direction for us," Millan said. "I think that was the first time we outshot a team and probably outplayed them. They got a couple fortunate bounces and they got the benefit of the doubt on that one but going into [Sunday] I think we really carried the momentum we brought in from Friday night’s game and it showed and paid off."

Parker agreed that Friday may have been a turning point, calling the team's effort on Sunday its best of the season.

"It was our best effort of the year no question about that," Parker said. "We saw this coming a little bit against Merrimack the other night and [Sunday] we see BU hockey show up."

When a team plays such inconsistent hockey, most people point to a common trait of playing up to better opponents and down to the teams it should beat. Parker acknowledged that his team has done that at some points.

"Well we certainly played up tonight," Parker said after the victory at BC. "I don't know why we would play down to anybody because this league is so tough. You better not play down to Lowell or Providence or anybody in this league and we've already shown the rest of the league that so we'll certainly remember that."

But the good news for the Terriers is that they think they've turned it around. This weekend will test the team's consistency as they play Vermont on Friday night, a team that has yet to win a conference game this season. The game will be televised on NESN, with the puck dropping at 7:00 p.m.

"So far this year we've really played well against the good teams and we've faltered against the weaker teams or teams we're supposed to beat so I think it's a big step for us," Millan said. "I think a lot of the guys on our team showed a lot of maturity about playing hard even when we were up by four or five goals and I thought that the way we played is the way BU hockey was supposed to be played."

It's definitely not too late for BU, who are currently tied for fourth place through seven conference games, but if they want to be on top at the end of the season, earning themselves a trip to the NCAA Tournament, they need to be a more consistent team.

Filed under: Boston University, Headlines, Hockey East, Jared Shafran, NESN University ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/boston-university-looking-to-turn-around-inconsistent-start-to-season/feed/00Boston University Looking To Turn Around Inconsistent Start To SeasonDominique Wilkins Slams Home a Bounce Pass Alley-Oop From Isiah Thomas (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/dominique-wilkins-slams-home-an-bounce-pass-alley-oop-from-isaiah-thomas/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/dominique-wilkins-slams-home-an-bounce-pass-alley-oop-from-isaiah-thomas/#respondThu, 17 Nov 2011 16:59:48 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/dominique-wilkins-slams-home-an-bounce-pass-alley-oop-from-isaiah-thomas/Read More »]]>Editor’s note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Even though he didn’t have the best track record as a general manager, Isiah Thomas will always be mentioned as one of the best true point guards of all time.

Thomas led the Pistons from 1981 until 1994. During that time, he won two titles in ’89 and ’90 and was named an NBA All-Star 11 times.

At Magic Johnson‘s Mid-summer Night’s Classic in 1990, Thomas gave a bounce pass to Dominique Wilkins. The pass was bounced high off the hardwood, high enough that Wilkins could finish the play off with a big dunk, completing an alley-oop play.

Check out the video of the play below.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/dominique-wilkins-slams-home-an-bounce-pass-alley-oop-from-isaiah-thomas/feed/00Michael Jordan Dunks Over Shaquille O’Neal, Horace Grant In 1995 Playoffs (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/michael-jordan-throws-one-down-over-shaq-in-95-playoffs-1/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/michael-jordan-throws-one-down-over-shaq-in-95-playoffs-1/#respondWed, 16 Nov 2011 14:15:13 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/michael-jordan-throws-one-down-over-shaq-in-95-playoffs-1/Read More »]]>Editor’s note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Michael Jordan provided NBA fans with plenty of highlight-reel dunks when he was in his prime.

In Game 3 of the 1995 playoffs, Jordan got to the rim by moving in between Magic big men Shaquille O’Neal and Horace Grant.

However, the Magic won the series and eventually advanced to the NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Rockets.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Orlando Magic ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/michael-jordan-throws-one-down-over-shaq-in-95-playoffs-1/feed/00Nate Robinson Throws One Down After Tony Allen Gives Him Pass Off Backboard in 2010 (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/nate-robinson-throws-one-down-after-tony-allen-gives-him-a-pass-off-the-backboard/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/nate-robinson-throws-one-down-after-tony-allen-gives-him-a-pass-off-the-backboard/#respondTue, 15 Nov 2011 14:11:45 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/nate-robinson-throws-one-down-after-tony-allen-gives-him-a-pass-off-the-backboard/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Nate Robinson is just about as entertaining as they come.

Although he didn't have a great tenure with the Celtics, Robinson sure helped to entertain the fans. Even as a member of the Knicks, Robinson stood out, and his ability to dunk the ball at just 5-foot-9 is tremendous.

Robinson is a three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner and he showed why in the video below, taking a pass off the backboard from Tony Allen and finishing off this game against the Pistons.

Filed under: Boston Celtics, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/nate-robinson-throws-one-down-after-tony-allen-gives-him-a-pass-off-the-backboard/feed/00Julius Erving ‘Rocks The Baby,’ Puts Lakers to Sleep With Big Dunk in 1983 (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/julius-erving-rocks-the-baby-puts-lakers-to-sleep-with-big-dunk/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/julius-erving-rocks-the-baby-puts-lakers-to-sleep-with-big-dunk/#respondMon, 14 Nov 2011 13:57:14 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/julius-erving-rocks-the-baby-puts-lakers-to-sleep-with-big-dunk/Read More »]]>Editor’s note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Although he retired in 1987, Julius Erving is still one of the most exciting players to ever play in the NBA.

More commonly known as “Dr. J,” Erving won two titles in the ABA before the league merged with the NBA. He won an NBA title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983.

The UMass grad helped change the game with his incredible leaping ability, dunking over just about anyone who got in his way — including Michael Cooper in the 1983 NBA Finals.

Check out this move he pulled on the Lakers in the video below.

﻿

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/julius-erving-rocks-the-baby-puts-lakers-to-sleep-with-big-dunk/feed/00Boston University Dominates Boston College in 5-0 Victory at Conte Forumhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/boston-university-dominates-boston-college-gets-a-5-0-victory-at-conte-forum/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/boston-university-dominates-boston-college-gets-a-5-0-victory-at-conte-forum/#respondMon, 14 Nov 2011 04:08:02 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/boston-university-dominates-boston-college-gets-a-5-0-victory-at-conte-forum/Read More »]]>Boston University got ahead of Boston College early and never looked back, winning 5-0 in the first of three Hockey East meetings between the two schools.

The shutout for BU marks the first time the school has held its inner city rival scoreless since joining the Hockey East Association.

That fact even surprised longtime BU head coach Jack Parker.

"I never knew that," Parker said. "That means something to our team. I was pleased with the way we moved the puck tonight."

The Terriers got a goal just 54 seconds into the game from Corey Trivino, who was coming back from an injury, and that set the tone.

"He said he was 100 percent, no sweat, and I thought he was more than that," said Parker. "I thought that was his best game of the year and he's had some real good ones. If you take your first line center out of the lineup, things change drastically, it doesn't seem like one guy should make that much of a difference but he does. When you put him back in, things change drastically again, especially on the confidence side."

Later in the period, Boston College had three power-play chances in a row, but it couldn't capitalize on any of them. After the game BC head coach Jerry York said that was the biggest problem for his team, and it didn't allow them to get back into the game.

In the last minute of the first period, BU got a power play goal from Wade Megan to go up 2-0 before the first intermission. Megan also added a shorthanded goal late in the game.

"Obviously getting the first goal in a game like this is huge, so fortunately we were able to do that and we were able to build off that and we just didn't stop," said Megan. "We didn't get complacent, just kept coming at them."

York said losing the special-teams battle and letting up two power play goals and a shorthanded goal, added to the frustration for his team.

"I thought BU outworked us," York said. "Losing the special teams is a deficit that is difficult to overcome in any game, but you don't want to lose the special-team battle."

York also said the team struggled on the power play, not taking it to the net when they had the room to get closer.

"There was no attack to our mentality, especially in the first period when we moved four or five passes around the box, through the box, but we never took it to the net," York said. "I think that mentality stayed with us through the rest of the night."

BU goaltender Kieran Millan only had to make 21 saves, but was perfect behind his defense, which killed off all seven power-play opportunities the Eagles had.

"I think it's a big step for us," said Millan. "A lot of guys on our team showed a lot of maturity today, playing hard even when we were up by four or five goals. I thought that our penalty killing was phenomenal today. Our ability to block shots and limit their opportunities with all that time they had on the power play was key for us to win, and obviously making big saves at the right time really helps the team."

York hopes this game will serve as a wake-up call for his team, as it has another tough task when it heads to Notre Dame next weekend.

"It's going to be a hard challenge for us," York said. "Sometimes it's not bad to get hit right in the nose, knocked down. Nobody likes to lose but sometimes you get hit square in the jaw like this and you can benefit from it. We'll use it as a pretty good motivating force for us to get better."

For Parker, he believes this game showed a big step in the right direction for the Terriers, who have had a problem early this season with playing down to its opponents.

"We certainly played up tonight," Parker said. "I don't know why we would play down to anybody because this league is so tough. I think our team felt like a BU hockey team this weekend."

BU gave a rare road stick salute to its fans during the BC fight song.

Thanks for following along with us here at NESN.com. We'll have a full recap of today's game shortly.

6:38 p.m.: Frustration has definitely boiled over for BC, as a scrum around the BU net just got ugly. Lots of players were mixed up in the roughness. Alex Chiasson was given a 5-minute major for a facemask and a 10-minute misconduct penalty. He was escorted off the ice.

Bill Arnold and Patrick MacGregor were also given roughing minors.

6:34 p.m.: After a penalty to BU's Yasin Cisse, the Terriers caught a good bounce and found Wade Megan all alone for a shorthanded breakaway.

Megan made the Eagles pay once more, putting the puck past Millner for his second goal of the game, and a 5-0 lead.

6:30 p.m.: Things are winding down here, with BU still comfortably in the lead. There are just about two minutes to go.

Boston College's inability to capitalize on early power-play chances cost them in this one and it will be BU that comes away with the victory in the first of three Hockey East games between these teams this season.

The next time they'll play is on Dec. 2.

6:19 p.m.: As the penalty expired, Connolly had a chance on a break but missed the net wide-left. A minute later, Ross Gaudet missed a rebound opportunity with Millner out of position. 10:30 left to play in this game.

6:17 p.m.: Back at even strength once again, this time it's BU going to the box as they took two penalties on the same play.

First, it was a slashing to Ryan Ruikka, and then as the Terriers touched up, a big hit was applied by Rosen. Both him and Pat Mullane are in the box for hitting after the whistle. BC on the power play.

6:11 p.m.: The Eagles were able to kill off the Dumoulin penalty without giving BU too many opportunities, but they took a too-many-men penalty just after they got back to even strength. Patrick Brown is in the box, serving the penalty.

BC is ruining any chance they had at coming back in this game, as they have spent the opening minutes of this third period killing penalties.

6:07 p.m.: The third period is underway here at Conte Forum. Senior defenseman Brian Dumoulin isn't making things easier for BC, taking an elbowing penalty 38 seconds into the period and putting BU on the power-play for the fourth time.

6:01 p.m.: BU has outshot BC 16-15 through two periods. You wouldn't know it's a four-goal game by looking at those numbers. The difference has been on the power-play, where BU has converted on two of its three opportunities and BC is 0-5.

5:49 p.m.: BC had a last second chance at the end of the period. With the puck loose in the crease, there was a big pile up of all 10 skaters right around the net.

After the officials had a discussion, penalties for hitting after the whistle were given to Cisse, Clendening, Whitney, and Cross.

At the end of the second, the Terriers are in total control, up 4-0.

5:43 p.m.: Millner just robbed Trivino, making a great save on his back with his glove to keep the score at 4-0. Two minutes remaining in the second, BC's got a long uphill climb to get back in this game.

5:39 p.m.: This game is turning ugly as BU just put another one on the board, making it 4-0. Matt Nieto was wide open in front of the net and one-timed a pass from Charlie Coyle right past Millner. Alex Chiasson gets the second assist, his second point of the night.

Millner has now surrendered 4 goals on 13 shots. Tonight is just not his night.

5:33 p.m.: Kieran Millan just made a flashy save on Chris Kreider, who had a point blank opportunity.

BC has been picking and choosing their opportunities a little too carefully, and still have not been able to beat Millan today.

5:29 p.m.: At the start of the BU power-play, BC had a big 2-on-0 shorthanded rush but Patch Alber missed the net on a pass from Barry Almeida.

Then a boarding penalty was called on Tommy Cross, giving BU a 5-on-3 advantage.

The Terriers wasted no time, again capitalizing on the power-play. This time it was Alex Chiasson who scored, with assists going to Adam Clendening and Sahir Gill. BU is now up 3-0 and still on the man-advantage.

5:26 p.m.: BC just had a big odd man rush but wasted the opportunity and couldn't get a shot off.

BU defenseman Alexx Privitera was caught out of position, leading to the chance.

Just about halfway through the period, a tripping call to Patrick Brown of BC. Some punches were thrown after the whistle and BU is going on the power-play.

5:17 p.m.: The struggles for Boston College on the power-play continue, as BU has now killed all five chances they've had.

Five minutes into the second period, BU is still leading 2-0.

5:15 p.m.: Yet again, BU has committed a penalty. Just 34 seconds after they got back to even strength, Yasin Cisse goes off for interference.

That marks the eighth penalty to BU. BC is still looking for their first goal, and are 0-4 with the man-advantage so far.

5:12 p.m.: The second period started with the Eagles on the power-play, but the Terriers got another successful kill and the teams are back at even strength.

BC's best chance may have been when defenseman Tommy Cross had a lot of space between the circles, but fired a wrist shot high of the net.

5:04 p.m.: Despite taking all those penalties, BU outshot BC 7-6 in the period. BU was able to convert on its only power-play chance, while BC went 0-3. The Eagles will start the second period on their fourth power-play of the game.

BU blocked five of the 14 shots attempted by BC and Kieran Millan was perfect, making six saves for the Terriers.

4:57 p.m.: A few penalties came as a result of the rough play at the end of the period. BC will be on the power-play to start the second after Matt Nieto was called for slashing, and both BC's Patch Alber and BU's Alex Chiasson will be in the box for hitting after the whistle.

BU took a total of seven penalties in that first period, yet have the 2-0 lead.

4:50 p.m.: With 1:12 left in the first period, a penalty was given to Kevin Hayes for hooking. On their first power-play of the afternoon, BU wasted no time capitalizing as they got a goal from Wade Megan. Chris Connolly and Corey Trivino were credited with assists. Both players now have two points in this game.

BU has a 2-0 lead going into the dressing room after the first period. There was a lot more pushing and shoving as the horn sounded. This game has been as physical as any, with both teams fighting hard.

4:42 p.m.: As we get to the last five minutes of the first period, BU has to be happy, leading 1-0. But they have spent the majority of the period on the penalty kill, something head coach Jack Parker can't be happy about.

The Terriers need to clean up their game if they want to hold the lead. Eventually, BC will get it together and make them pay if they keep taking penalties.

4:36 p.m.: The Terriers killed off the Escobedo penalty successfully but have gotten called for yet another infraction. Now it's junior Ben Rosen who sits in the box after he has been called for cross-checking.

BC has gotten some decent chances on the power-play so far, but they havent forced Kieren Millan to make any great saves so far.

4:30 p.m.: The Eagles caught BU during a change, resulting in a 3-on-2 for BC. During the rush, a penalty was called on Sean Escobedo for interference. BC is going back on the power play with 11:54 left in the first.

4:25 p.m.: BU has successfully killed off their penalties and all players are out of the box with 14:11 to play in the first period.

4:21 p.m.: Penalties given to BU's Sean Escobedo for cross checking and BC's Barry Almeida for roughing. During the 4-on-4, another penalty given to BU's Max Nicastro for holding. After the call, there was some pushing and shoving behind the BU net and it results in a few more players in the box.

This game has been exciting right from the get-go and BC will now threaten to tie it up on the power play.

4:15 p.m.: Just 54 seconds into the game, Corey Trivino has his sixth goal of the season. He took a pass from Chris Connolly and wristed the puck right under Parker Millner, giving BU the early 1-0 lead.

4:13 p.m.: Jerry York has elected to start his third line in today's game. The line has been very productive early on this season in large part because of freshman Johnny Gaudreau, who has five goals and five assists through the team's first 11 games.

Jack Parker has his top line out there to begin the game, centered by Corey Trivino, who is second on the team with five goals in seven games.

4:03 p.m.: Here are the lines for the afternoon clash:

Boston University forwards:

Chris Connolly-Corey Trivino-Sahir Gill

Matt Nieto-Charlie Coyle-Alex Chiasson

Wade Megan-Ross Gaudet-Evan Rodrigues

Justin Courtnall-Ben Rosen-Yasin Cisse

On defense:

Sean Escobedo-Adam Clendening

Max Nicastro-Ryan Ruikka

Alexx Privitera-Patrick MacGregor

and in goal, senior Kieran Millan

Boston College forwards:

Paul Carey-Destry Straight-Barry Almeida

Chris Kreider-Bill Arnold-Kevin Hayes

Johnny Gaudreau-Pat Mullane-Steven Whitney

Tommy Atkinson-Michael Sit-Patrick Brown

On defense:

Tommy Cross-Patch Alber

Brian Dumoulin-Edwin Shea

Isaac MacLeod-Brooks Dyroff

and in net for the Eagles is junior Parker Millner

The teams are on the ice and we are almost ready to start here at Conte Forum.

3:55 p.m. ET: One of the oldest and most storied rivalries in College Hockey will be renewed Sunday afternoon when Boston University visits Boston College for a Hockey East battle.

The Eagles have won in each of the last five meetings between the two schools that are separated by just a few blocks.

BC also comes into this matchup ranked at No. 2 in the nation, while BU is a bit lower at No. 16. The Eagles won their last game on Friday against Northeastern on a goal by defenseman Tommy Cross with 2.8 seconds left in the game.

BU took a tough loss to Merrimack in overtime on Friday night, 3-2. The Terriers had led the game almost the whole way, but the Warriors scored with just 1:56 left in the game to force overtime. 22 seconds into OT, Merrimack freshman Connor Toomey scored the game winner on a redirect from the left circle.

This afternoon's game is sold out and should be a thriller.

Filed under: Boston College, Boston University, Hockey East, Jared Shafran, NESN University, Top Stories ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/live-blog-boston-universtiy-visits-rival-boston-college-for-first-hockey-east-meeting-of-the-season/feed/00Boston College vs. Boston University Live Blog: BU Defeats BC 5-0 at Conte ForumPatriots One-Point Underdogs As They Head Into MetLife Stadium To Face Jetshttp://nesn.com/2011/11/patriots-one-point-underdogs-as-they-head-into-metlife-stadium-to-face-jets/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/patriots-one-point-underdogs-as-they-head-into-metlife-stadium-to-face-jets/#respondSun, 13 Nov 2011 18:00:36 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/patriots-one-point-underdogs-as-they-head-into-metlife-stadium-to-face-jets/Read More »]]>The Patriots are in a rare position as underdogs this week, heading into their Sunday night game with the New York Jets.

New York is favored by one point and the over-under is set at 47.5.

The two teams enter the game in a three-way tie for first place atop the AFC East, each with records of 5-3. The Jets are playing well of late, having won three straight after losing to the Pats at Gillette Stadium on October 9. New York's latest win came at the hands of the third team in contention for the division, the Buffalo Bills.

A Patriots win would put them on the inside track to claiming the division as they would sweep the season series with New York.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/patriots-one-point-underdogs-as-they-head-into-metlife-stadium-to-face-jets/feed/00UMass-Lowell Hockey Confident It Can ‘Play For This Year’ Under New Coach Norm Bazinhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/riverhawks-confident-they-can-play-for-this-year-under-new-head-coach-norm-bazin/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/riverhawks-confident-they-can-play-for-this-year-under-new-head-coach-norm-bazin/#respondFri, 11 Nov 2011 14:03:28 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/riverhawks-confident-they-can-play-for-this-year-under-new-head-coach-norm-bazin/Read More »]]>LOWELL — UMass-Lowell got its first Hockey East win of the season last Saturday when they defeated Boston University 7-1 in Lowell. The win was the first one in conference for first year head coach Norm Bazin.

This season, it is Bazin’s task to try and turn around a Riverhawks team which won only five games last year and missed the playoffs.

Although the team is 3-3-0 overall and has made some strides forward, Bazin acknowledged there is still plenty to work on.

“It’s a work in progress,” Bazin said. “The guys’ work ethic has been tremendous, I’ve liked their battle level and their attention to detail has been strong most nights. We still need to find a better level of consistency, and certainly have better starts if we’re going to continue to give ourselves an opportunity to win more games.”

One of the biggest things Bazin has tried to change early on with his new system is puck possession. He recognized that in previous years it might not have been emphasized as much, but he wants his team to hold on to the puck.

“We want to possess the puck as much as possible all night long,” Bazin said. “If I had to pick one thing that has changed, that we’re trying to emphasize weekly, its that we want to have the puck most of the night. In order to do that, you have to be very strong and tough to play against, and be able to possess it and protect it.”

Coaching for his alma mater, Bazin also spoke about getting contributions from all of his players whether they are rookies or veterans. Scott Wilson and Terrance Wallin are two freshmen who have come in and made an impact, scoring six and five points, respectively, in the team’s first six games. Wilson was even named Rookie of the Week by the conference.

“If you look at our lineup, you’ll realize that most of our team is comprised of the freshman and sophomore class,” Bazin said. “It’s key to get contributions from some of the younger guys simply because you’re not going to go very far relying on just a couple juniors and a couple seniors to score all the goals. It’s been a big piece of our puzzle and we need to have those contributions from both those boys and maybe a couple more freshmen.”

Bazin’s veterans have also been contributing. The Riverhawks’ have seen solid production from early on from the likes of senior David Vallorani, sophomore Derek Arnold, and junior Riley Wetmore.

As for Vallorani, Bazin said he has been impressed with what he’s seen so far from the senior.

“I feel that he’s been a catalyst for us and generating chances,” Bazin said. “He would probably venture to tell you he’d like to execute on more of those chances, however, a coach can never be mad when somebody’s generating the chances, it’s just a matter of time before they convert.”

Though there wasn’t much expected from this team (they were picked 9th in the preseason coaches poll), Bazin was adamant that the team is striving to accomplish something this season. There’s no doubt this team is young, but anytime you show you can knock off a team like BU, you’ll get noticed.

“The seniors have been battle tested,” Bazin said. “They’ve gone through some adversity and they’re pretty resilient. We made it a point of having an emphasis on our club that we want to play for this year and see where we can go this year.

“We’re playing so those guys can leave some type of legacy behind them and have a great season so it’s exciting to see their progress, and I’m very pleased so far with their execution.”

The upcoming weekend presents a tough series for the Riverhawks as they’ll travel up to Orono to take on Maine in a weekend series and Bazin expects the Black Bears to be ready.

“We’re expecting a very hungry Maine club coming off two tough losses on the road,” Bazin said. “We’re expecting a firestorm, especially the first 10 minutes of the first night. I have too much respect for the Maine organization and Tim Whitehead to think that we’re going to get anything less than their best especially on Friday, and it should be a very exciting college atmosphere.”

While there are still plenty of games left to be played, this weekend should serve as a good test to see how much progress Bazin has inspired so far in Lowell.

Filed under: Headlines, Hockey East, Jared Shafran, NESN University ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/riverhawks-confident-they-can-play-for-this-year-under-new-head-coach-norm-bazin/feed/00Andy Brickley, Reggie Lemelin, Rick Middleton Headline List of Former Providence Bruins To Play In Alumni Gamehttp://nesn.com/2011/11/andy-brickley-reggie-lemelin-rick-middleton-headline-list-of-former-providence-bruins-to-play-in-alu/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/andy-brickley-reggie-lemelin-rick-middleton-headline-list-of-former-providence-bruins-to-play-in-alu/#respondFri, 11 Nov 2011 13:43:52 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/andy-brickley-reggie-lemelin-rick-middleton-headline-list-of-former-providence-bruins-to-play-in-alu/Read More »]]>The Providence Bruins announced the roster of former Bruin players who will participate in the club’s alumni game on Nov. 13 at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

A total of 15 former players will be on hand for the game, including NESN’s own Andy Brickley, William M. Jennings Trophy winner Reggie Lemelin, Stanley Cup champion Ken Linseman, Lady Byng recipient Rick Middleton, and Bruins assistant general manager Don Sweeney.

Appearing in net as a special guest will be Cumberland, R.I., native Bobby Farrelly, who, with his brother Peter, make up the popular Hollywood team who have written, directed and produced several comedy films including There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber.

In the first round of the Australian Open on Thursday, Daly became so frustrated with his play that he walked off the course, withdrawing from the tournament.

On the 11th hole, Daly hit a total of 15 shots before running out of balls. He then proceeded to hand in his scorecard and stormed off the course. Daly had been seven over par through the first 10 holes of the tournament.

Daly told the AP he still can’t find confidence in his game after his injury nearly five years ago. He also never imagined he would run out of golf balls during a round.

“I love the fans here in Australia. They’ve been great,” Daly said. “I’ve never played well here. Try too hard and it backfired. It might not be bad if they ban me … because I’ve never played well here. But I do love the people here and this beautiful country. I take responsibility for my actions. I always have and I don’t blame anybody but myself.”

Not long after he withdrew on Thursday, the PGA of Australia said he was no longer welcome in two weeks for the Australian PGA Championship.

Trevor Herden, Golf Australia’s director of tournaments, called Daly “unprofessional” and said “I would say this is the last time we will see John Daly.”

Daly, who has had a rough history in Australia, has yet another long flight ahead of him.

Check out video of Daly’s meltdown below.

Filed under: Golf, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NESN Newswire ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/john-daly-melts-down-and-walks-out-of-australian-open-uninvited-to-australian-pga-championship/feed/00Cristiano Ronaldo Taunted by Bosnian Fans As Portugal Prepares for Playoff Game (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/crristiano-ronaldo-being-taunted-by-bosnian-fans-as-portugal-prepares-for-playoff-game/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/crristiano-ronaldo-being-taunted-by-bosnian-fans-as-portugal-prepares-for-playoff-game/#respondFri, 11 Nov 2011 00:21:00 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/crristiano-ronaldo-being-taunted-by-bosnian-fans-as-portugal-prepares-for-playoff-game/Read More »]]>The Portugese national team is in Bosnia for a Euro 2012 playoff game and the fans are really giving it to Cristiano Ronaldo in hopes of taking the star player off his game.

First, fans crowded the airport to greet Ronaldo by chanting the name of Lionel Messi at him as he and his teammates walked through the terminal, as pointed out by Yahoo!’s Dirty Tackle soccer blog.

Ronaldo recently explained why fans have been jeering him.

“It is because I am handsome, rich and a great player, because I am envied. I have no other explanation.”

During a recent Portugal training session, the Bosnian fans aimed laser pointers at his face from perches on surrounding buildings. Ronaldo’s response was to turn around and give them the finger.

There is still some time before Friday’s game, but the fans definitely seem to be on the right track to creating a distraction.

To see the fans chanting Messi’s name at Ronaldo in the airport, see the video below.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NESN Newswire, Soccer, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/crristiano-ronaldo-being-taunted-by-bosnian-fans-as-portugal-prepares-for-playoff-game/feed/00Cristiano Ronaldo Taunted by Bosnian Fans As Portugal Prepares for Playoff Game (Video)Pele Concerned With Brazil’s Peparations for 2014 World Cup, But Confident Country Will Finish on Timehttp://nesn.com/2011/11/pele-concerned-with-brazil-delayed-peparations-for-2014-world-cup/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/pele-concerned-with-brazil-delayed-peparations-for-2014-world-cup/#respondFri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:37 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/pele-concerned-with-brazil-delayed-peparations-for-2014-world-cup/Read More »]]>Retired soccer legend Pele voiced concerns Thursday about his home country and its ability to host the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA has urgently asked Brazil to approve a law establishing legal framework for the tournament. Pele claims the government knew of FIFA’s demands when it bid to host the tournament.

As the World Cup’s official ambassador in Brazil, Pele said he was surprised by some of the delays in the 12 host cities, which include the construction of stadiums, according to the AP. However, he also said he is confident his country will do what is necessary to finish on time.

On Monday, Brazil’s largest newspaper announced the country will spend an extra $410 million to expedite the construction. More workers are needed to to finalize the infastructure work to stadiums in time for the month-long tournament.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NESN Newswire, Soccer ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/pele-concerned-with-brazil-delayed-peparations-for-2014-world-cup/feed/00NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four Logo For 2013 Released, Features Georgia Peachhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/final-four-logo-for-2013-released/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/final-four-logo-for-2013-released/#respondWed, 09 Nov 2011 15:10:42 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/final-four-logo-for-2013-released/Read More »]]>The NCAA unveiled the logo for the 2013 Final Four on Tuesday, which will be held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech will be the host school for the event, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary. Atlanta first hosted the event in 1977 when Marquette won the national title and has hosted it twice in the last 10 years, when Maryland bagged the 2002 championship and when Florida won it all four years ago for its second straight title.

The logo includes a peach, a fruit commonly associated with the state. Check out the logo below.

Filed under: College Basketball, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NCAA Tournament ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/final-four-logo-for-2013-released/feed/00NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four Logo For 2013 Released, Features Georgia PeachTerry Francona Interviews for Managerial Job With Cardinals, Keeps Quiet About Cubs Rumorshttp://nesn.com/2011/11/terry-francona-interviews-for-managerial-job-with-cardinals-also-being-considered-by-cubs/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/terry-francona-interviews-for-managerial-job-with-cardinals-also-being-considered-by-cubs/#respondWed, 09 Nov 2011 01:42:35 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/terry-francona-interviews-for-managerial-job-with-cardinals-also-being-considered-by-cubs/Read More »]]>The St. Louis Cardinals interviewed former Red Sox manager Terry Francona for their managerial vacancy on Tuesday. The World Series champions are looking for a replacement for Tony La Russa, who announced his retirement days after the team defeated the Texas Rangers in Game 7.

The interview, which took place in Cincinnati, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was the fourth the Cardinals have conducted and the first with someone who does not have any previous ties to the organization. The first three candidates included Mike Matheny, Chris Maloney and Joe McEwing.

Matheny played for St. Louis and is now a minor league instructor with the Cardinals and Maloney has managed the team's Triple-A Memphis affiliate for the last five years. McEwing played for the Cardinals in 1998 and 1999 and was recently promoted to be the third base coach under new White Sox manager Robin Ventura.

"We just had a dialogue," Francona said before boarding a flight home. "I enjoy talking about baseball — a lot. Without going into details, we discussed pretty basic philosophy. I'd call it an enjoyable, casual conversation."

Francona said he was not given a time frame for when the team would reach a decision. He is also rumored to be under consideration for the Chicago Cubs managerial job but would not confirm that report, calling it "kind of private."

The Cardinals are still scheduled to interview two more candidates, Ryne Sandberg and Jose Oquendo, on Wednesday.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Headlines, Jared Shafran ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/terry-francona-interviews-for-managerial-job-with-cardinals-also-being-considered-by-cubs/feed/00LeSean McCoy Fires Agent Drew Rosenhaus, Will Look For a New Contract After Seasonhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/lesean-mccoy-fires-agent-drew-rosenhaus-will-look-for-a-new-contract-after-season/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/lesean-mccoy-fires-agent-drew-rosenhaus-will-look-for-a-new-contract-after-season/#respondSun, 06 Nov 2011 20:29:29 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/lesean-mccoy-fires-agent-drew-rosenhaus-will-look-for-a-new-contract-after-season/Read More »]]>Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is enjoying a breakout season. Sensing it might be time to look for a new contract, McCoy ended his working relationship with agent Drew Rosenhaus.

This isn't the first time McCoy has decided to look elsewhere for representation, but he is definitely ready to get paid. So far his season totals include 754 yards rushing and 10 total touchdowns. He can also catch the ball and this season he has 23 receptions for 138 yards.

Rosenhaus, one of the premier agents in sports, also represents McCoy's teammate, wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson is also in line for a big deal, as both players have outperformed their contracts.

So while the Eagles might be getting together their money to re-sign the duo of talented players, McCoy will be interviewing candidates who will be expected to get to work right away.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NFL ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/lesean-mccoy-fires-agent-drew-rosenhaus-will-look-for-a-new-contract-after-season/feed/00Pass Interference Rule Causes Confusion, Needs Clarificationhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/nfl-pass-interference-penalties-greatly-impact-games-rule-needs-to-be-clarified-in-future/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/nfl-pass-interference-penalties-greatly-impact-games-rule-needs-to-be-clarified-in-future/#respondSun, 06 Nov 2011 20:25:52 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/nfl-pass-interference-penalties-greatly-impact-games-rule-needs-to-be-clarified-in-future/Read More »]]>Back in Week 3, the Patriots faced the Bills in an AFC East matchup. Both teams were 2-0 and looking to continue their perfect start to the season. The Patriots blew an early 21-0 lead and the Bills came away with the victory.

It would be wrong to suggest the Patriots lost the game unfairly, as Tom Brady did throw four interceptions and the New England defense didn't play well, but a questionable pass interference call greatly changed the game.

The Bills started a drive with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter down seven points and needing a touchdown. After a 48-yard gain by Donald Jones put Buffalo at the New England 32 yard line, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went for the end zone on first down. David Nelson was the intended reciever, but he was deep in the back of the end zone and ran into a Patriots' defensive player. The ball was underthrown and intercepted by Josh Barrett in the end zone.

It was a big play for New England as they got the ball back and would be able to try and increase their lead. Instead, a late flag was thrown by an official for pass interference, negating the play and putting the ball on the goal line for the Bills.

Buffalo wasted no time capitalizing on their opportunity, as running back Fred Jackson ran the ball into the end zone on the next play, tying up the game.

In this particular situation, the game was impacted signifigantly by a play that wasn't even close. The Bills gained 30 yards and all they had to do was toss a ball towards the end zone. Fitzpatrick, a graduate of Harvard, is smart enough to know that his chances of getting a pass interference call are high enough to justify the throw, even with no one open.

The NFL is a full contact sport. Each week, players leave it all on the line, sacrificing their bodies for the sake of their team in hopes of a victory. But in a game where most plays end in a tackle, it doesn't seem fair for a penalty to be called just for touching an opposing player.

Receivers need to be allowed the opportunity to catch the ball when it is thrown their way, but because the rule is so open ended, defensive players end up getting penalized for inadvertently touching the receiver past the "five-yard buffer zone."

To have the penalty as a spot of the foul infraction gives it much more of an impact when it is called. Officials should only be calling it when they have to, when the defensive player doesn't give the receiver a chance of catching a catchable ball before it gets to him. There should be much more leinancy given to defensive players, whose job is to defend.

With defenders confused about when the penalty will be called and quarterbacks taking advantage of the spot of foul verbage within the rules, the NFL needs to let their players battle it out on the field and stop throwing pass interference flags so quickly.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NFL, Opinion ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/nfl-pass-interference-penalties-greatly-impact-games-rule-needs-to-be-clarified-in-future/feed/00Pass Interference Rule Causes Confusion, Needs ClarificationBrian Wilson Appears in LSU Uniform on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay,’ Correctly Picks Tigers Over Alabamahttp://nesn.com/2011/11/brian-wilson-appears-in-uniform-picks-lsu-over-alabama/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/brian-wilson-appears-in-uniform-picks-lsu-over-alabama/#respondSun, 06 Nov 2011 15:49:37 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/brian-wilson-appears-in-uniform-picks-lsu-over-alabama/Read More »]]>Brian Wilson appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay as a guest gamepicker Saturday morning, and the San Francisco Giants closer was his normal self. Of course, Wilson’s definition of “normal” is different than most of the world’s.

Wilson had on a full LSU uniform, complete with a facemask-less helmet so as to not cover up his trademark beard.

During the show, he pulled out a trumpet to play the Tigers’ fight song, and tried on a large Tiger mascot head, complete with a black beard, as he picked the Bayou Bengals to defeat Alabama.

Not surprisingly, the Crimson Tide fans weren’t too happy with his prediction. Unfortunately for them, he was right as LSU won in overtime, 9-6.

Photo of the day

Here’s Wilson in full uniform (gloves and everything) on the set of College Gameday.

Photo via Deadspin.com

Tweet of the day

Some fans are still stuck in the ’90s.

Video of the day

Pole vaulting may be harder than it looks. Just ask this guy.

Filed under: College Football, Daily Blend, Jared Shafran, MLB, Top Stories, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/brian-wilson-appears-in-uniform-picks-lsu-over-alabama/feed/00Brian Wilson Appears in LSU Uniform on ESPN's 'College GameDay,' Correctly Picks Tigers Over AlabamaBrian Wilson Appears in LSU Uniform on ESPN's 'College GameDay,' Correctly Picks Tigers Over AlabamaReport: Titans Thinking of Cutting Chris Johnson If He Doesn’t Improve His Playhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/report-titans-thinking-of-cutting-chris-johnson-if-he-doesnt-improve-his-play/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/report-titans-thinking-of-cutting-chris-johnson-if-he-doesnt-improve-his-play/#respondSun, 06 Nov 2011 15:40:47 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/report-titans-thinking-of-cutting-chris-johnson-if-he-doesnt-improve-his-play/Read More »]]>Chris Johnson hasn't exactly had a memorable season. Through the Titans' first seven games, Johnson has rushed for only 302 yards, far below where he was in each of his first three NFL seasons, when he easily eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark each year and the 2,000-yard mark once.

Now, the Titans are wondering whether he is worth keeping around. Starting with the fifth day of the 2012 NFL season, a clause in Johnson's contract will kick in that would guarantee him his base salary of $8 million.

Johnson will now need to convince his team that he is worth keeping around. The Titans face off against the Bengals on Sunday, who have a defense that has only allowed one 100-yard rushing performance this season.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NFL ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/report-titans-thinking-of-cutting-chris-johnson-if-he-doesnt-improve-his-play/feed/00Paul Pierce Drives to Rim and Dunks Over Two Raptors Players (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/paul-pierce-drives-to-the-rim-and-dunks-over-two-raptors-players-video/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/paul-pierce-drives-to-the-rim-and-dunks-over-two-raptors-players-video/#respondSun, 06 Nov 2011 13:27:36 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/paul-pierce-drives-to-the-rim-and-dunks-over-two-raptors-players-video/Read More »]]>Editor’s note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

With just over four minutes left in a game against the Raptors last January, Paul Pierce decided to take matters into his own hands in order to close out the game.

Pierce drove to his left and finished over Raptors players Amir Johnson and Joey Dorsey with his right hand in what was one of his best moments of the 2010-11 season.

See the play in the video below.

Filed under: Boston Celtics, Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/paul-pierce-drives-to-the-rim-and-dunks-over-two-raptors-players-video/feed/00Chris Paul Goes Right at Dwight Howard and Finishes With Big Dunk (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/chris-paul-goes-right-at-dwight-howard-and-finishes-with-big-dunk-video/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/chris-paul-goes-right-at-dwight-howard-and-finishes-with-big-dunk-video/#respondSat, 05 Nov 2011 13:42:06 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/chris-paul-goes-right-at-dwight-howard-and-finishes-with-big-dunk-video/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

New Orleans Hornets All-Star Chris Paul showed he wasn't scared of Orlando Magic defensive standout Dwight Howard in the third quarter of a game between the two teams in 2006.

Paul went right to the rim and finished over Howard with his right hand. The big play also provided Paul with the opportunity to say a few words in excitement afterward.

Check out the dunk in the video below.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Orlando Magic, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/chris-paul-goes-right-at-dwight-howard-and-finishes-with-big-dunk-video/feed/00Scottie Pippen Flies Over Clippers Player for ‘Put A Cape On That Man’ Dunk (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/scottie-pippen-flies-over-clippers-player-for-dunk-put-a-cape-on-that-man-video/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/scottie-pippen-flies-over-clippers-player-for-dunk-put-a-cape-on-that-man-video/#respondFri, 04 Nov 2011 13:53:01 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/scottie-pippen-flies-over-clippers-player-for-dunk-put-a-cape-on-that-man-video/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Chicago Bulls great and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen left Doug Overton feeling not so super. As the Clippers' guard attempted to take a charge, Pippen got up so high to dunk that the commentator proclaimed, "Put a cape on that man!"

Check out Pippen's highlight-reel jam in the video below.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA, Video Non-NESN ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/scottie-pippen-flies-over-clippers-player-for-dunk-put-a-cape-on-that-man-video/feed/00Sophomore Bill Arnold’s Fast Start Headlining Another Impressive Boston College Campaignhttp://nesn.com/2011/11/bill-arnold-off-to-fast-start-helps-boston-college-to-7-1-record-no-1-ranking/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/bill-arnold-off-to-fast-start-helps-boston-college-to-7-1-record-no-1-ranking/#respondFri, 04 Nov 2011 02:20:10 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/bill-arnold-off-to-fast-start-helps-boston-college-to-7-1-record-no-1-ranking/Read More »]]>Once again, Boston College has wasted no time positioning themselves as one of the top teams in the nation. Through the first month of the season, the Eagles are 7-1-0, undefeated in Hockey East play at 5-0-0, and are ranked No. 1 overall in the USCHO.com national poll.

The old saying is that BC doesn't ever rebuild its team, instead they reload. With a bunch of players moving on after last season including Cam Atkinson, Brian Gibbons and John Muse, there are new guys with the opportunity to make an impact.

One player who is making the most of his ice time is sophomore forward Bill Arnold. Arnold, who had a solid freshman campaign with 10 goals and 10 assists last season, is leading the team in scoring with six goals and six assists, and was named the Hockey East Player of the Month for October.

Arnold, who was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL draft, also has two game-winning goals for the Eagles, proving that when he has scored, it's really helped the team.

"He's taken a real leadership role for us," said BC head coach Jerry York. "He's only a sophomore but he's really become one of our go-to guys both with and without the puck. I think he's shown some realimprovement from last year to this year and I thought he had a pretty good freshman year for us."

The sophomore, who has been playing on a line with Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider, said he has been feeling comfortable with his linemates and they have fun playing together.

"I feel like we have a lot of good chemistry and we work well together and it's really fun playing with those guys," Arnold said. "I'd say I definitely feel more comfortable, getting a full year under my belt last year, you just want to continue getting better every time you step out there."

Arnold also spoke highly of freshman forward Johnny Gaudreau, who has come in and provided some instant offense to the Eagles lineup.

"He's been fantastic so far," Arnold said of the freshman. "He's a really shifty and smart player up there. He can find guys and score from pretty much everywhere and it's great to get a contribution from him. The whole freshman class this year has been great. They all work hard and they're all talented which is really important for us."

Another player who has been counted on early and has proved himself so far is junior goaltender Parker Milner. Milner had been Muse's backup the last two seasons and has started all eight games for the Eagles this season, posting a goals against average of 2.24 and a save percentage of 92 percent.

"Parker has stepped in and done an incredible job," Arnold said. "He's been rock solid for us all season and keeping us in a lot of games. We've been getting out shot and that's one area we need to improve in is not letting up as many shots. He's given us the opportunity to start off 7-1."

"I've always been a little jealous that I missed out on that game so when we heard the news, I couldn't be happier. I definitely have that one circled on the calendar. [Northeastern] always comes to play when they play us so I'm sure it'll be a great game."

Arnold and the rest of the BC Eagles will look to stay undefeated in Hockey East play this weekend when they host Maine on Friday at Conte Forum and then head to UMass to play the Minutemen in Amherst on Saturday night.

Filed under: Boston College, Headlines, Hockey East, Jared Shafran, NESN University ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/bill-arnold-off-to-fast-start-helps-boston-college-to-7-1-record-no-1-ranking/feed/00Sophomore Bill Arnold's Fast Start Headlining Another Impressive Boston College CampaignKevin Johnson Slams Over Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994 NBA Playoffs With One-Handed Flush (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/kevin-johnson-slams-over-hakeem-olajuwon-in-1994-nba-playoffs-with-one-handed-flush-video/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/kevin-johnson-slams-over-hakeem-olajuwon-in-1994-nba-playoffs-with-one-handed-flush-video/#respondThu, 03 Nov 2011 13:38:17 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/kevin-johnson-slams-over-hakeem-olajuwon-in-1994-nba-playoffs-with-one-handed-flush-video/Read More »]]>Editor's note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

In Game 4 of the 1994 Western Conference Semifinals, Phoenix Suns' Kevin Johnson famously went up and over Houston Rockets All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon.

Although the Suns eventually lost the series in seven games, Johnson's dunk became the lasting image of the series.

Check out how high Johnson had to jump to get over Hakeem in the video below.

Filed under: Headlines, Jared Shafran, NBA ]]>http://nesn.com/2011/11/kevin-johnson-slams-over-hakeem-olajuwon-in-1994-nba-playoffs-with-one-handed-flush-video/feed/00Michael Jordan Throws Down One-Handed Dunk Over Patrick Ewing In 1991 NBA Playoffs (Video)http://nesn.com/2011/11/michael-jordan-dunks-over-patrick-ewing-in-1991-nba-playoffs/
http://nesn.com/2011/11/michael-jordan-dunks-over-patrick-ewing-in-1991-nba-playoffs/#respondWed, 02 Nov 2011 13:12:26 +0000http://nesncom.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/michael-jordan-dunks-over-patrick-ewing-in-1991-nba-playoffs/Read More »]]>Editor’s note: The 2011-12 NBA season was supposed to tip off Nov. 1. With no games to watch, NESN.com will help fill the void by posting a dunk video every day until the lockout ends.

Michael Jordan certainly had some memorable dunks during his career. This throwdown over the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing is one of his best.

In the first round of the 1991 NBA Playoffs, Jodran dribbled himself into the corner, got by Charles Oakley, and went right for the finish.